US Announces Mandatory Covid-19 Testing For Travellers From China, 2 Other Countries

Starting from January 5, 2023, the United States will require all travellers aged 2 and above coming from China, Hong Kong, or Macao to present a negative Covid-19 test report taken within the previous two days before their departure.

Those who tested positive for the virus more than 10 days before their flight may instead provide documentation of their recovery.

This mandatory testing requirement is being implemented in response to China’s decision to relax its strict zero-Covid policies, and it is similar to measures implemented by India, Italy, Japan, and Taiwan.

China recently revised its Covid-19 policies, dismantling its lockdowns and widespread testing regime in order to fully reopen its economy next year.

This action has increased the spread of Covid-19, with some international health experts estimating that it is now infecting millions of people every day.

Also Read: China to End Testing, Quarantine Rules For International Travellers Starting January 8

According to some global health experts, the virus has the potential to infect up to 1 million people per day, and international modelling groups predict that China will suffer 2 million or more deaths.

These forecasts, combined with a lack of transparent data from China on the pandemic, have prompted US officials to consider imposing travel restrictions. It should be noted that the approaches taken by the United States and China in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic have been very different.

India Imposes Covid-19 Testing Requirement for Travellers from China, 4 Other Countries

On Thursday, December 29th, the government of India announced that all international travellers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore will be required to submit self-declarations and RT-PCR test reports, conducted within 72 hours prior to departure, via the Air Suvidha portal as part of a mandatory Covid-19 testing requirement.

This is in addition to Random 2% tests of all International Passengers on their arrival to India.

(With Inputs From Reuters)